Venkaiah Naidu's high pitch campaign for US investments in urban sector

NEW DELHI: India’s Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu has strongly pitched for US investments in urban sector in India explaining the opportunities under new initiatives of the Government to a host of US policy makers, officials and corporate.

Naidu, who is on a visit to the US, held a series of meetings and interactions in New York yesterday giving details of the process of urban renaissance set in motion in India under new urban missions viz., Smart City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Swachh Bharat Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) etc.

Naidu held extensive discussions with Arun Kumar, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, former New York Mayor and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies Michael Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor of New York Alicia Glen, officials of US Trade Development Agency, Chief Executives and senior officials of several leading corporate like AECOM, KPMG, IBM and Master Card besides addressing US-India Business Council.

He explained the paradigm shift introduced for a concerted effort for urban development in India by empowering citizens and urban local bodies. Michael Bloomberg, whose Bloomberg Philanthropies is associated with holding Smart City Challenge competition in India and others acknowledged the new vigour and enthusiasm in India for recasting the country’s urban landscape and stated that it is a win-win situation for all.

Naidu held detailed discussions with the Deputy Mayor and officials of New York City on the innovative approaches and adoption of technology for delivering quality services to the citizens.

The Minister gave a detailed account of similar efforts being made under Smart City Mission under the component of mandatory Pan-city solutions to enable better public information and service deliver and effective use of infrastructure.

US companies have informed Naidu that they are working on project proposals to take advantage of invest opportunities under Smart City Mission and other initiatives.

United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA) already Memoranda of Understanding with the Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh for assisting in developing Allhabad, Ajmer and Visakhapatnam as Smart Cities.